Apparatus for straightening axles and the like



Sept. 13, 1949. M. s. MERRILL ETAL 2,481,756

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS MARCELLUJ 5 ME/FR/L L.

RALPH W. BEcKE/F BY WH/TEHEAD & OGL

Afforfle/J Pen-6w Sept. 13, 1949. M. s. MERRILL ETAL 2,431,766

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1944 B SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MARCE'LLUS 5. MERE/L L RALPH W BECKER WHITEHEAD 3 1/061.

Af/arne/J !Sept. 13, 1949. M. s. MERRILL ETAL 2,481,766

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AxLEs AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Shet s 25 AW: 32 /5 E H- I ,/'u

MN II IIIIHI FIG. 5

INVENTORS MARCELLUJ 5. MERRILL RALPH W BECKER WH/TEHEAD A: VOGL A/forn e 5 Sept. 13, 1949. M. s. MERRILL ETAL 2,431,766

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLE-5 AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8

FIG. 9

L 5mm m: T C

E m; V 0

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AfforneyJ Per.- 6 l 7' a/ Sept. 13, 1949 M. s. MERRILL ETAL 3% APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fae. I2

INVENTORS MARCELLUJ 5. MERFP/LL RALPH W BECKER WH/ TEHEAD & VOGL Afforneys Patented Sept. 13, 1949 APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND THE LIKE Marcellus S. Merrill and Ralph W. Becker, Denver, 0010.

Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,274

1 9 Claims.

1 This invention relates to apparatus straightening bars, beams, axles and like articles and especially where such article is a part of a framework such as an axle of an automotive vehicle.

The invention includes improvement upon and modification and adaptation of an axle straightener of the type disclosed in applicant Merrills United States Patent No. 2,042,856.

Apparatus of this class is generally used on the concrete floors .of garages and repair shops and is commonly positioned over a pit which provides space for both workersand depending portions of the apparatus, as illustrated at Fig. IX of the drawing of said patent.

It will be understood that" such apparatus requires a strong base, frame or anchorage to provide for the heavy .pressures and stresses, exerted in operation, running as high as 30 to 40 tons in straightening heavy frame parts, as in large trucks etc. Consequently a heavy and expensive metal framework set on the floor has commonly been used as a base for devices of this class, requiring ramps and runways to position the vehicle above the straightening device. The motors of many such vehicles are either removed or inoperative so that the vehicle must be hauled or pushed up the ramp and onto the runways at the expense of extra equipment, men and time. The framework is permanently positioned on the floor and occupies the space at all times and the ramp occupies additional floor space even when not in actual use because, on account of its size, shape and weight it is generally left in place or, at least, near at hand. I V

In order to obviate these objections we have provided a mounting for such a device in the usual pit so that the walls of the pit, constructed of reinforced concrete, are utilized as a support, base or framework, eliminating the frame and ramp usually positioned on the floor, leaving clear the floor surrounding the pit so that the vehicle can be moved along the floor, straddling the pit, directly to the desired position over the device. We have also provided means for projecting the device upwardly from the pit, to the point of engagement with the axle or other memher to be straightened, and for retracting the device downwardly and wholly within the pit, when not in use, so that the pit, with the device therein, can be covered with floor plates, thus eliminating the waste of floor space when the device is outofuse. I e

, Having in view the foregoing, as well as other, objects, all of whichfshall more, fully hereinafter appear, our invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: 7

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device in upwardly projected position engaging an axle (indicated, with its wheels, in broken lines) the pit walls and floor being indicated in section. V

Fig. 2 is a view of a fragment of the wall channel, one of the rollers and one of the pins for holding the device in its upper position.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3 -3 of Fig. 1, and showing the lateral pressure element in place for use.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view looking down on the top of a channel at the surface of the floor around the pit and showing parts associated therein.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 1 but showing the device retracted down into the pit.

Fig. 6 is an illustration of the seat for the lateral pressure element, showing the manner of its mounting in the pit walls. the surface of the concrete but a cross section of the element being shown.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention. v

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section on line -8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the apparatus raised to operative position.

Fig. 9 is a view the same as Fig. 8 except that it shows the apparatus in lowered position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a view, partly in section, on line lI-ll of Fig. 10, showing the apparatus raised to operative position.

Fig. 12 is a view the same as Fig. 11 except that it shows the apparatus in partially lowered position.

We shall first describe the preferred embodiment illustrated at Figs. 1 to 6.

The device is positioned in the pit in the floor F of the shop and preferably near one of its end walls W. In the side walls ll of the pit we provide channels l2 open at their tops but each terminating at its lower end in a shelf 13, the channels being preferably inclined, from bottom to top, toward the pit end ID, as illustrated at Fig. 3. Angle-iron runways l4 line the sides and a portion of the back or base, of each channel as clearly shownat Fig. 3. V,

An assembly which may be referred to as the vise mounting comprises hollow beams l5 and 3 l6 afiixed as by welding) at their ends to plates l1, preferably sufficiently narrower than the width of channels I2 to leave clearance between the vertical edges of the plates and the liners M of the side walls of the channels, as clearly shown at Fig. 3. The ends of the beams l5 and I6 extend into channels 12 to a substantial extent, as shown at Fig. l and, sidewise the beams project slightly beyond the edges of plates I1 so that the outer sides of the beams have a sliding fit with and bearing against the side wall liners M. The beams, are parallel with each other and are interrelatively spaced apart to accommodate the vises, later described, or. other devices, and permit such vises or other devices to be moved, longitudinally of the beams,

to the point desired for operation, the beams thus f forming a track or runway for the vises or other devices.

Plates l'I preferably carry rollers l8 positioned to roll along the portions of angle irons M which partially line the back or base of the channels, thus giving the assembly a rolling bearing at its ends and a sliding bearing on the Sides against the channel-side-wall liners. Plates l1 and channels l2 and other parts are so proportioned that when the plates reach shelf l3, at the end of the downward retraction of the device, the entire device Will be below the floor F so that the pit may be covered with a fioor'plate.

The outer face of beam H5- is provided with ports l9v for access to pins 26 slidably mounted in sleeves 21 carried by plates l1 and adapted for insertion into sockets?! in the angle irons If and the reinforced concrete forming the back or base of the channels,,for retaining the assembly in its uppermost position, a knob 26a being illustrated for gripping the end of pin but any suitable mechanical device may, of course, be provided for inserting and retractingthe pin.

For raising and lowering the assembly in the channels there is provided suitable means such asa fluid jack 23' seated on the floor of theplt, having a plunger M surmounted by a cap '25 adapted to seat against the bottoms of beams l5 and I5. Usual means, not shown, are provided for operating the jack, for either raising or lowering the assembly. y r Mounted in the assemblyjust described is a plurality of vises each of which comprises a; standard 26, having a, stem 21 adapted to slidingly fit between beams l5 and l6 and having shoulders 28 for slidingly engagingthe tops of the beams. These shoulders are preferably notched as at 29 for sliding engagement with ribs 30 formed, on the tops of the beams. On the outside of; the front shoulder a seat 3 l is formed for the adjusting screw later described. y Q

Along. their adjacent bottom edges the beams are provided with ribs 32 and the stems 21' project below. these ribs and are there provided with slots to receive wedges 3'3which wedge against the bottoms. of ribs 32 and the bottoms of the slots and thus lock the vises to the beams.

One side of the standard 26- projects upward and terminates in a fixed jaw 34 adapted to receive a removable grip member 35, which may be. of any desired size and'shape'for gripping an axle or other member to. be operated upon, the remov ability making it possible to use a variety ofsizes. and shapes of grip members with a singlefvise' standard. The removability' is. provided for by iorming a suitable recess, as- 3.6, in the jaw, 34" which recess receives a (id-mating portion 310i. the grip member.

cut away and bifurcated, each leg 38 of the bifurcation being provided with eyes 39, for the adjustable setting of the movable jaw member 40, which member has a jaw portion 4| similar to jaw 34 and adapted, in the same manner, for carrying another grip member 35 also an eye adapted to align with any pair of the eyes 39 whereby, when thus aligned, a pin 42 may be inserted through the pair of eyes 39, the pin through the aligned eyes thus furnishing a pivotal mounting for member 4-0. By using different pairs of the eyes 39 the jaws and grip members may be adjusted to different sizes of. axles or other members to be gripped. Two pairs of eyes 39 will be found to furnish sufficient adjustability for practically all needs so. only two pairs are illustrated. The member 4.0, fulcrumed as described, has an arm 43. of length to furnish the leverage required to rigidly grip an axle or the like between the grip members 35 which arm hasoperating means eonveniently consisting oi a threaded sleeve-pivotally mounted in. the lower end-of arm 43; as. generally indicated at M, throughwhieh a screw 45', with its end seated against seat 3| on standard 26, may be rotated to force outwardly the lower end of arm 43 thus forcing jaw M: toward jaw 34 and} gripping the axle and maintaining the gripuntii adapted to seat against the side or an:- axle or the Iike for exertingupward" pressure thereon by operation. or me jackin the welt understood manner. rt -wili'also oe understood v that the relative positions or the vise members and the jack along the-beams i5 and; I6 and longitudinally of the'axle or-the like (indicated in broken lines) can be changed as desired so as to apply the"pressure of the jack and the resi'stanceof the vise members thereto at any desired points-'alongtheaxle; 7 Adapting means for exerting a dmvnward pu l? on theaxle may. be used-with this structure the same as with the corresponding structure dis closed in said prior patent andanfil-lustrationand descriptiono'f'such means here would be mere repetition and istheiefore omittedi The structure is illustrated as inclined fromthe vertical and the purpose-oi" this'inelination is that in orderto properly perform thestraightening operation, as wellas' the'wheel testing and/ or truing operation commonly performed in conjunction therewith, thewheels-ofthevehicle e have to be raised somedistanee above the door which results irr an inclination of'thejaxle; Thisapparatus is so as-te grip, and exert pressure upon, the axle in'the same-manner and direction as if the axle were. in normal; position and the apparatusivertioal'. The inclination of? the apparatus corresponds to the 'inciinatiorrgof the axle when in raised position to be operated upon. Inclination is'thereiore preferable.

The apparatusthhsfardescribed is adapted; to

exert, pressures upon a raised-axle and thelilreirr} th plane which s v rt wl were ie i normal position with thevehicle"wheelsiresting on the floor. A complete axle.straiglrteningjal aratus, however, comprises also meansier'exert ing lateral pressure on the axleandiorthis '5 pose lateral pressure means are provided in substance like the lateral pressure device illustrated and described in said prior patent except for one important feature, namely, that whereas said former device required a heavy and expensive metal framework in which to mount the base from which such lateral pressures are exerted on the axle, such base, in the present apparatus, is seated in the reinforced concrete walls of the pit in which the rest of the apparatus is positioned, thus eliminating the need for such heavy and expensive framework. In the present apparatus the base consists of an I beam 50 having its ends embedded in the reinforced concrete side walls ll of the pit as clearly illustrated at Fig. 6.

The lateral pressure device comprises a base member having a hook 52 for hooking over the upper edge of the front and upper flange of the beam 50, so that base 5| is supported by and seats upon the outer face of said flange. Afiixed to and extending forwardly from base 5i is a shelf or support 53 carrying yokes 54. A fluid jack 55 rests upon support 53 and seats against base 5| and has the usual operating mechanism including lever 56. A plunger rod 51 is carried by the support and isslidable within the yokes and seats against the plunger of the jack. The forward end of the plunger rod is formed in shape suitable for engagement with the axle and the rod is of suitable length to reach from the jack plunger to the 'axle, whereby actuation of the jack forces the rod forward and exerts pressure laterally upon the axle.

The engagement of base 5| with the flange, in the manner above described, permits the sliding of the device along the flange to any point on the flange, the appropriate point in each case being that directly opposite the point in the axle at which lateral pressure is desired to be applied. It will be understood that the vises hold the axle, at the desired points, against this lateral pressure as well as against the upward pressure of jack 46 or the downward pressure of any downward pull devices which may be used, as above mentioned.

At Figs. 7, 8 and 9 we have illustrated a different embodiment of the invention, in which the vise mounting assembly, instead of having its ends slidably set in channels in the pit walls, is carried on the free end of a frame whose other end is pivoted in the pit walls whereby the vise mounting assembly may be swung, on said pivots, upwardly into operative position or downwardly into the pit.

In these views the vises and vise mountin are generally illustrated without detail or exactness because these structures are shown in detail in the illustrations of the preferred embodiment, Figs. 1 to 6, to which reference is made for such detail.

In this embodiment the beams l5a and Mia are the same as the beams l5 and I6, heretofore described, except that they are shorter and terminate sufficiently short of the pit side walls to permit the plate [1a to be afiixed (as by weldin to the ends of the beams and still permit free up and down movement of the assembly between said pit side walls.

The vise mounting assembly is the same as previously described, as indicated by the use of the same designating characters on such of the various parts of the vise mounting as are shown in these three figures.

This vise mounting assembly is attached to a frame comprising a base member 58, pivoted in the reinforced concrete walls as at 59, and having 6 side barstn to front. cross member 6| which mem--. ber B I is suitably attached (as by welding) to the vise mounting assembly at 62.

Thus the vise mounting assembly .swings about the pivot 59 between operative position illustrated at Fig. 8 and retracted position illustrated at Fig. 9.

It will be understood that 24 and 25 in Figs. 8and 9, as in Figs. 1 and 3, indicate the plunger and its cap'of a hydraulic jack 23, not shown in Figs. 8 and 9, whereby the vise mounting assembly is raised into operative position or lowered into the pit as desired. Any other suitable means may be used for raising and lowering the assembly.

Characters 25 and 22 indicate, conventionally, a pin and socket, shown in detail at Fig. 2, for holding the assembly in operative position.

Rollers 58, as shown at Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, may be mounted in plate Ila to provide a roller bearing on the pit side walls if desired.

Lower sockets 22a may be placed in the pit side walls, if desired, for reception of pins 20 for support of the assembly in its lower position.

It will be noted that with both embodiments thus far described the vehicle may be moved along the floor, straddling the pit, until the axle is above the vises, whereupon the jack '23 is operated until the vises engage the axle, whereupon the axle may be suitably seated in the vises and the jack again operated to raise the assembly and the axle'and vehicle wheels to the desired height. Thereuponthe vises are finally adjusted to propterly grip the axle for the straightening operaion.

As previously stated, the axle must be raised in any case sufficiently to raise the vehicle wheels a suitable distance above the floor and oneobject of the embodiments thus far described is to provide a structure whereby a single power unit, as jack 23, may be made to accomplish, coincidentally, the raising of the assembly and the raising' of the vehicle axle.

Another embodiment of the invention, so far as concerns its provision for projecting the vises out of the pit and into operative position and retracting them into the pit, is illustrated at Figs. 10, 11 and 12. Here the vise mounting assembly is substantially the same as in the embodiment illustrated at Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the principal difference being in the form of pivotal mounting, and in the means and manner of raising and lowering the assembly.

In this case the assembly is provided with end plates I'lb which are centrally pivoted in the side walls as indicated at 63 and the assembly is provided with a handle 64 whereby the assembly may be manually swung about the pivot 63 into operative position as illustrated at Fig. 11 or into the pit as indicated at Fig. 12.

It will be noted that at Fig. 12 the assembly is illustrated as not fully retracted into the pit.

Bar 65, mounted in the pit walls, or other suitable means are provided to support the assembly when retracted below the floor F.

Sockets 22 are provided in the side walls of the pit and orifices 66 are provided at such a point in plates llb that when the assembly is in upright operative position the orifices 66 will register with the sockets 22 and a pin, such as pins 20 illustrated at Fig. 2, may be projected through the orifices and into the sockets for holding the assembly in upright operative position.

It will be understood that handle 64, by any means commonly used for such purpose, not 

